"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

[Peregrin]

When you use polish to mirror shine the toe caps of your boots - in Britain its called bulling, I assumed this was common to the English language but it might be a colloquial thing.

Any US forumites ever been in the Police or Forces who can verify this?

I've never heard of the term bulling. When I was in the US Air Force Basic Training we called it "spit shine". I didn't have the patience for it, but some of the guys could really get the ol combat boots looking like mirrors.

 

[screened porch]

Horace Kephart has detailed instructions for cooking woodchucks. It might involve simmering in vinegar. He also says their hide is great for rawhide laces.
I have one the size of a pony in the back jungle, which I'll point out to my neighbor with the vegetable garden.

I once saw one dive off a high bank and swim across the river, angling upstream to strike the mouth of a creek opposite. I had to look that up, but yes, they can swim. I've also seen one climb a mulberry tree to get at the leaves. Wire fences are a doddle.

 

[leghog]

Lots of game needs vinegar. Vinegar and a crockpot will do wonders for groundhog. Problem here is they are just too big.

 

[pmew]

I've never heard of the term bulling. When I was in the US Air Force Basic Training we called it "spit shine". I didn't have the patience for it, but some of the guys could really get the ol combat boots looking like mirrors.

I was rubbish at it. We had a guy on my in take who was RSM for the Scots Guards - his were like black glass!

 

[ConBon]

Has that changed now that we're supposedly buddy-buddy with Cuba again?

Really would like to get my hands on a box of Romeo y Julietas (not Dominican) without having customs all on my case.

Have you ever had Montecristo Whites? I like them over almost any R&J, any day of the week. Then again, i like the Whites more than most any day of the week.

Anyone here smoke Rocky Patels? I'm looking to try one of their patriots(freedom maybe?), if only because the band is interesting.

Connor

 

[mrknife]

Have you ever had Montecristo Whites? I like them over almost any R&J, any day of the week. Then again, i like the Whites more than most any day of the week.

Anyone here smoke Rocky Patels? I'm looking to try one of their patriots(freedom maybe?), if only because the band is interesting.

Connor

if there wasnt such a hassle with customs and what not, id ask my brother to bring some back. hes traveling in Europe atm and just sent a picture of him enjoying a Monte Cristo a few days ago

 

[ConBon]

We have a lot for sale locally, I'll check a cigar shop or two today.
If i find some I can get you one to try next week, and if you like it we can split a box.

Connor

 

[mrknife]

We have a lot for sale locally, I'll check a cigar shop or two today.
If i find some I can get you one to try next week, and if you like it we can split a box.

Connor

cool! thanks, might take you up on that, itll be nice to pass around at the rendezvous

 

[btb01]

Based on my experience (which, being in the states, is admittedly limited, but I do have a friend whose dad travels internationally a lot and has brought back a variety of Cuban cigars for me over the years), I don't think Cuban cigars quite live up to their reputation anymore. They produce some good cigars, don't get me wrong, but compared to some of the non-Cuban stuff that's out there now, I don't think they're indisputably "the best" any more. All a matter of taste, though.

 

[mrknife]

Based on my experience (which, being in the states, is admittedly limited, but I do have a friend whose dad travels internationally a lot and has brought back a variety of Cuban cigars for me over the years), I don't think Cuban cigars quite live up to their reputation anymore. They produce some good cigars, don't get me wrong, but compared to some of the non-Cuban stuff that's out there now, I don't think they're indisputably "the best" any more. All a matter of taste, though.

i agree. but i have a very limited amount of experience with cubans. we were in Canada awhile back and I bought one for my dad, my brother and I to enjoy by the hotel. tiny things cause R&Js are expensive and I was a college student at the time. Truth be told, I was more excited by the strike anywhere matches that came from the cigar shop. In fact I was so excited I went back to that shop to buy more. The guy thought I was crazy, but he doesnt know that in USA we don't really have strike anywhere matches because they are worried about kids playing with matches.

 

[leghog]

Dominican tobak is just as good or better than Cuban and all the great Cuban rollers died or left long ago.

 

[TsarBomba]

Have you ever had Montecristo Whites? I like them over almost any R&J, any day of the week. Then again, i like the Whites more than most any day of the week.
Anyone here smoke Rocky Patels? I'm looking to try one of their patriots(freedom maybe?), if only because the band is interesting.

I haven't tried the Whites, I'll have to inquire after them at the local shop. I wonder what sort of hoops they'd have to jump through to order boxes of Cubans. Has anyone been able to get some stateside without huge markups (import fees are OK, so long as they're reasonable) or long waits?

 

[r redden]

I used to trout fish a lot but the bugs drove me nuts. I found a big ole cheap Tampa Nugget was the best bug repellant I have ever used. Seriously though I know a lot of folks enjoy a good cigar but when I quit cigarettes in 82 something changed in me and I can no longer be around any kind of tobacco smoke it's almost like an allergy. My eyes water my nose runs and I just can't take it. I do however miss a good cigar sometimes but even more so a nice pipe.

 

[mrknife]

I used to trout fish a lot but the bugs drove me nuts. I found a big ole cheap Tampa Nugget was the best bug repellant I have ever used. Seriously though I know a lot of folks enjoy a good cigar but when I quit cigarettes in 82 something changed in me and I can no longer be around any kind of tobacco smoke it's almost like an allergy. My eyes water my nose runs and I just can't take it. I do however miss a good cigar sometimes but even more so a nice pipe.

havent had time for a pipe since college. used to stroll around before going to pick up some beers and groceries at the 7-11 with a bowl in the owl Dr.Grabow. good times.

 

[Jolipapa]

Based on my experience (which, being in the states, is admittedly limited, but I do have a friend whose dad travels internationally a lot and has brought back a variety of Cuban cigars for me over the years), I don't think Cuban cigars quite live up to their reputation anymore. They produce some good cigars, don't get me wrong, but compared to some of the non-Cuban stuff that's out there now, I don't think they're indisputably "the best" any more. All a matter of taste, though.

I stopped smoking 15 years ago and now, smoke is a problem for me, except cuban cigars, I can rcognize and still appreciate because they smell good. All other smokes do stink now.

 

[TsarBomba]

Re: Cubans vs. Dominicans. As a whole, the quality of Dominican, Honduran, etc. cigars may have risen to approach the baseline quality of Cuban (a parallel to east Asian knives vs. American/German/British blades, in a way), though I partially attribute this to the vast proliferation of Cuban-seeded tobaccos and wraps. I can still tell by smell or taste the difference between a Cuban RyJ and a Dominican one, and since we were denied the ability to legally enjoy Cuban stogies for half a century thanks to politics, I'll gladly enjoy a few Cubans before the novelty wears off.

 

[Jolipapa]

Re: Cubans vs. Dominicans. As a whole, the quality of Dominican, Honduran, etc. cigars may have risen to approach the baseline quality of Cuban (a parallel to east Asian knives vs. American/German/British blades, in a way), though I partially attribute this to the vast proliferation of Cuban-seeded tobaccos and wraps. I can still tell by smell or taste the difference between a Cuban RyJ and a Dominican one, and since we were denied the ability to legally enjoy Cuban stogies for half a century thanks to politics, I'll gladly enjoy a few Cubans before the novelty wears off.

+1 :thumbup: The same applies to rum, the ground is the most important factor for things that grow. It does all the difference!

 

[Jack Black]

I really don't miss having to bull my toe caps three times a day

When you use polish to mirror shine the toe caps of your boots - in Britain its called bulling, I assumed this was common to the English language but it might be a colloquial thing.

I was rubbish at it. We had a guy on my in take who was RSM for the Scots Guards - his were like black glass!

I think it's very much a Forces term Paul. My dad was in the British Army in the era pf post-WW2 'National Service', when a lot of time seems to have been spent bulling boots, painting coal, etc just to keep them busy and out of trouble. I remember as a kid, my youngest uncle got a pair of Doc Martens, and my father boasted about bulling them for him. Typical of my father, he spent 4 hours on one boot, bulling it to a glass-like shine, then told my uncle we had to get off, and he'd have to do the other boot himself. I can still see the poor lad's face!

 

[meako]

My ex boss was at one stage a tanky in the aus army.
His fire brigade dress uniform boots were without doubt the shiniest boots I have ever seen .he got them like patent leather.

 

[leghog]

+1 :thumbup: The same applies to rum, the ground is the most important factor for things that grow. It does all the difference!

Yup, that's why the best coffee I've had from arabica typica beans was from Papua New Guinea vs Jamaica.